Kinetic energy rod warhead with lower deployment angles

Abstract

This invention features a kinetic energy rod warhead including a projectile core including a plurality of different size projectiles, an explosive charge about the core, and at least one detonator for the explosive charge.

1 . A kinetic energy rod warhead comprising: 
 a projectile core including a plurality of different size projectiles;    an explosive charge about the core; and    at least one detonator for the explosive charge.    
   
   
       2 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the plurality of different size projectiles includes a larger number of small projectiles and a smaller number of large projectiles.  
   
   
       3 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 2  in which the number of smaller projectiles is chosen to increase lethality against submunition payloads.  
   
   
       4 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 2  in which the number of larger projectiles is chosen to increase lethality against bomblet payloads.  
   
   
       5 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 2  in which the number of smaller projectiles is chosen to increase the spray pattern density of the projectiles.  
   
   
       6 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 3  in which the number of larger projectiles is chosen to decrease the spray pattern density of the projectiles.  
   
   
       7 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 2  in which the smaller projectiles are located proximate an outer region of the core and the larger projectiles are located proximate the center region of the core.  
   
   
       8 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 2  in which the plurality of different size projectiles includes about seventy percent smaller projectiles and about thirty percent larger projectiles.  
   
   
       9 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 2  in which the mass of each large projectile is greater than the mass of each of small projectile.  
   
   
       10 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 2  in which all the projectiles have a cruciform cross section.  
   
   
       11 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 10  in which the large and small projectiles are tightly packed in the core with minimal air spacing therebetween.  
   
   
       12 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the all the projectiles are made of tungsten.  
   
   
       13 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 10  in which each of the small projectiles weigh less than about 50 grams.  
   
   
       14 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 13  in which each of the small projectiles weigh approximately 28 grams.  
   
   
       15 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the projectiles have a hexagon shape.  
   
   
       16 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the projectiles have a cylindrical cross section.  
   
   
       17 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the projectiles have a non-cylindrical cross section.  
   
   
       18 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the projectiles have a star shape cross section.  
   
   
       19 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the projectiles have flat ends.  
   
   
       20 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the projectiles have a non-flat nose.  
   
   
       21 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the projectiles have a pointed nose.  
   
   
       22 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the projectiles have a wedge-shape.  
   
   
       23 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the projectiles are cube shaped.  
   
   
       24 . The kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the projectiles have a three-dimensional tetris shape.  
   
   
       25 . A kinetic energy rod warhead comprising: 
 a projectile core including a large number of smaller projectiles and a small number of larger projectiles;    an explosive charge about the core; and    at least one detonator for the explosive charge.    
   
   
       26 . A kinetic energy rod warhead comprising: 
 a projectile core including a large number of smaller projectiles for increasing the lethality against submunition payloads and a small number of larger projectiles for increasing lethality against bomblet payloads;    an explosive charge about the core; and    at least one detonator for the explosive charge.